Here in the UK, the adjunct lecturer is known as an HPL – an hourly paid lecturer, on a zero hours contract. When I first entered academia, as a student, I was surprised to learn that some of my lecturers were ‘HPL’s’, and that in fact, many of the staff in the subject area had begun their lecturing lives that… Read more →
The next moves in higher education could be critical to its future, but I see so much moribund thinking. I’m especially bothered by how our ‘subject area’ is taught – web applications, new media, social – or rather, not taught. But, the bigger picture is also really concerning, even to late-comers like me. Some colleagues are busy with their online… Read more →
Everyone is on the bandwagon of social media. Everyone believes they must be involved, ‘doing it’, part of the new thing that social media is reckoned to be. And the poor old (very old) concept of the university cannot escape this. [rssless]So who is a university social media expert? Who can we turn to that we actually believe IS an… Read more →
We read a lot about using social to empower your organisation, or training up your workforce to understand corporate responsibility in the workplace when using social. There’s a lot of talk about engaging with your workforce and promoting ‘continuous’ connection using social, and how to implement strategies to ensure compliance for your company and still benefit from enhanced workforce engagement… Read more →
I have just submitted a paper for my ‘Theoretical Perspectives on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education’ module, part of the MA in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: “Changing Purposes and Priorities in Higher Education”. It’s a 5500 word essay on the university in a supercomplex age, Ronald Barnett provides core theory while other voices babble around him. Plagued… Read more →
After some time trying very hard to do exciting things, take the initiative, act on vision and engage in general fun ideas, I have decided that for the most part, it is largely wasted time and effort. Sad. Even though some may wish that I did more, got more people involved (who want to be, damnit!), spread exciting vibes –… Read more →
This is a rant against education and creativity, which I feel is an almost impossible relationship, proved by RocknRoll. After all, no-one goes to Rockstar school, or studies degrees in being a Rockstar (fame schools do not count). RocknRoll has a lot to teach us, especially those in creative fields, but everyone can learn from the RocknRoll model. There are… Read more →
I’ve been talking recently with someone about the need to achieve greatness. What drives some of us to keep on trying, to want more, to achieve. This isn’t about ego. if it was, then all the nightmare X factor heroes would rule. And they don’t, no matter how much money and attention is thrown at them, at us, we just… Read more →
Yesterday I started a class in education theory. It wouldn’t have come to mind as a first choice of how to spend my time, but as I wish to complete a second masters MA, it’s gotta be done. Now, you’d think it’s all stony cold boring, reading a bunch of whining academics ranting on about some theory or other relating… Read more →
My most annoying and recurring mantra over recent times is that of the death of IT as we know it. To any one who will listen I proclaim the new (old) message of: “how can you have an IT ‘department‘ when everything is IT?” it’s like saying the ‘living’ department, or the ‘communicating’ department. Stupid. Of course Americans already know this, and… Read more →